Head coach Jeff Pigg and the Illinois State track and field team head to Cedar Falls, Iowa, to compete in the 2002 Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championships hosted by Northern Iowa at the UNI Dome on February 22 & 23.
I look at this meet as a fun weekend, said Pigg. Our team has had a very strong indoor season and performances have been improving week-by-week. We are focused and have the talent to be successful at this meet. To me, this is what it is all about.
The meet begins at noon on Friday, February 22, with the field events, while running events are slated for a 4 p.m. start. Action resumes on Saturday at 11 a.m. with the remainder of the field events and the running events beginning at 11:40 a.m.
Senior co-captain Christian Goy, who completes his eligibility at the end of the indoor season, owns the fastest times in the Valley this season in the mile (4:03.85) and 3,000 meter run (8:02.46) heading into the championships.
In addition, senior co-captain Robert Breit has the best time in the Valley in the 5,000 meter run, while fellow senior co-captain Alfie Gordillo boasts the second-best MVC mark in the 35-lb. weight throw with 64-10 1/2 heading into the championships. Sophomore JaRod Tobler also has the second-best mark (24-3) in the long jump and the third-best mark (51-2 3/4) in the triple jump for the conference this season.
On the womens side, senior co-captain Stacia Beste, who will compete for her sixth career Valley title, has the top time in the MVC for the 5,000 meter run with 17:33.77. Freshman Liz Chukwudebe, who broke an Illinois State indoor record in the shot put earlier this season, has the best mark in the league at 47-1 1/2. Sam Serrano, a senior co-captain, owns the second-best Valley marks in the shot put (46-4 3/4) and the 20-lb. weight throw (60-9 1/4).
Last season, Northern Iowa won the mens indoor championships, while Indiana State claimed the womens meet crown. Illinois State finished in third in mens competition at last years meet and second on the womens side.
